Training of staff in the participating centres
The GenomEUtwin project provides funds for members to be trained in special skills in another participating centers.
Guidelines for student and researcher exchange in GenomEUtwin
As part of the training and mobility component (WP6), we indicated that the intellectual core system creates an ideal infrastructure for training and exchange for both junior and senior scientists. They would devote varying periods of time during their careers to training in epidemiology, high throughput genotyping, database management and operations, statistical analyses or ethical issues of genetic epidemiological research. However, the WP was not explicit as to how this exchange was to be achieved.
In addition the WP gave a fuller description of the workshops etc: "A more formal training programme includes courses, inter-institute exchanges, workshops and hands-on training at participating centres. The workshops and international symposia arranged annually on the topics crucial for the integrated project will maximize the education of scientists of participating centres and other centers in the project's integrated research. It is imperative that the training is closely connected with national educational systems since scientists of the participating centres are leaders of the graduate schools of epidemiology, statistics and genetics in their own countries"
We have arranged these (Helsinki twice, The Netherlands 2003) and are arranging more workshops and symposia (scientific symposia in Cambridge, Odense, Mainz, & ethics workshop in 2004).
Turning to exchanges, in the original application, we stated that:
Training and mobility objectives of this proposal
1) To create a "European postdoctoral training network in quantitative genetics, genetic epidemiology and molecular genomic epidemiology " by means of training grants for postdoctoral fellows in participating centres. Special emphasis is placed on the training for translational research. Special training opportunities in genetic epidemiology will be generated for fellows in medical subspecialties (internal medicine, neurology, paediatrics, medical genetics, psychiatric genetics), but also in relevant social sciences (behavioural genetics).
2) To establish training opportunities for pre-and postdoctoral students in Core facilities of the collaboration to provide focused experience in high-throughput genotyping, biostatistical analyses, database construction, and quality assessment of large epidemiological studies and the databases involved.
3) To establish exchange programmes between the participating centres to fund 3-5 doctoral students for a visit of 6-18 months in another centre.
Timeline for scientific training
State-of-the-art training is a key component to this program of research, and is essential to insure that future development of these data as a unique resource in genetic epidemiology keeps apace with the dramatic advances in the field. The training program will be designed to train two different groups of researchers. The primary program will recruit young pre- and post-doctoral researchers to train in interdisciplinary genetics. This program will consist of courses, inter-institute exchanges, workshops, and 'hands-on' training at the participating centres. A second, highly needed component will provide specialized training (workshops, modules) so that established researchers are able to enhance their ongoing programs of research to incorporate and parallel advances in the field. Approximately one-half of the training and mobility budget will used to organize workshops and meeting of participants, which students will also attend.
Also, we wrote:
A specific funding system will be established to guarantee travels
of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. We budget specifically,
using guidelines issued for Marie Curie fellowships, to support visits
by students to other participating centres based on allowed monthly
costs for salary, mobility allowance and host centre research costs
allied to the visits, as well travel allowances. Relocation costs
and registration/tuition fees can be paid as needed. One-half of the
total T & M budget will be allocated to these costs. The mobility
and training options for the post-doctoral researchers are quite flexible
and accommodate research visits, meetings, workshops, course work,
guest lectureships as needed by the researcher to increase scientific
competence and foster collaborations. Special training opportunities
in genetic epidemiology will be generated for fellows in medical subspecialties
(internal medicine, neurology, paediatrics, medical genetics, psychiatric
genetics), but also in relevant social sciences (behavioural genetics).
Once a year the trainees will meet to present their research. This
meeting will serve as a vehicle for discussion of recent developments
in the field, and will promote exchange of ideas and mobility within
the network. Visiting lecturers will be invited to present to the
group.
It should be noted that the training and mobility plan will provide for the participating researchers to also attend courses, workshops, and meetings that are offered outside of the participating countries as well as for costs to permit participating scientists to represent the project at international meetings.
Given that the final budget was cut we cannot support all the exchanges which were intended. However, we can provide some restricted guidelines for the exchange programme.
Guidelines:
Eligibility for exchange programme:
- Primarily for graduate students and post-docs
- Others can be considered (more experienced investigators, technicians)
Priorities for consideration of applicants:
1. Genomeutwin centre student/post doc seeking to visit other Genomeutwin centres
2. Genomeutwin centre student/post doc seeking to visit non- Genomeutwin centres, but seeking expertise for a specific Genomeutwin project
3. Genomeutwin centre student/post doc seeking to visit non- Genomeutwin centres to obtain general expertise in an area not available at home centre
Centres that have not received funding for exchange students have priority over those that already have done so (that is the centre that is the primary home of the student, not that hosting the visiting student).
Expenses that can be covered in line with Marie Curie-programme guidelines:
1. monthly costs of salary
2. mobility allowance
3. host centre research costs allied to the visits
4. travel allowances
The Marie Curie fellowship program provides extra details about these expenses as follows: (www.cordis.lu/improving/fellowships/faq.htm)
The Marie Curie Individual Fellowship scheme takes into account all the necessary legal, financial and social conditions in the host country.
The Community contribution consists of the following components:
a) a gross amount aimed at covering the subsistence expenditure of the researcher and all compulsory charges applicable under the legislation of the host country. A table with the monthly gross rates paid by the Commission and indicative net amounts received by the fellows in the various countries can be found in the Guide for Proposers;
b) a mobility allowance of 400 euro/month, granted to compensate, at least partially, for the costs incurred by them as a consequence of being away from their country;
c) a flat-rate reimbursement of return travel expenses, calculated on the basis of a scale which takes into account the distance between the country of their nationality and the host country (see table in the Guide for Proposers);
d) a contribution of 1200 or 900 euro per month as a contribution to the research and administrative costs of the host institution. The higher figure is paid if the research is of an experimental / laboratory-based nature
Procedure for selecting students:
Applicants should send in an application to the Exchange Programme which reviews applications, seeks clarification where necessary, and makes recommendations to the Steering Committee at its next Meeting. The Steering Committee makes the final decision. Neither the home centre, nor the host centre will have any say in the decision making process.
Information about the exchange program is posted here and will be sent regularly to all centres. Applications can be made at any time, but all those submitted a week prior to the next Steering group meeting will be decided at that meeting.
application
The applicants should proceed in the following way:
Please
provide us with an application containing:
Name and relevant personal info of applicant, including:
This should be submitted to GenomEUtwin exchange committee, which will ask for more details/clarifications if needed. Then it will be submitted to the GSG for approval.
Upon completion of the exchange, a brief report (1 page max) by the student/staff should be submitted within a month of completion of the exchange.
GenomEUtwin Training Committee
Professor Jaakko Kaprio, Helsinki
Professor Alun Evans, Belfast
Dr. Caroline van Baal, Amsterdam